Beer Pairing With Pizza: Finding the Perfect Combo

An ice cold beer with a slice of warm, gooey pizza. It doesn’t get any more comforting than that.

But did you know that your favorite pizza has a perfect beer pairing?

Put your fancy chef’s hat on and check out this guide to finding the best pizza and beer pairing.

Finding the perfect beer pairing

Choosing the best beer for your pizza is all about flavor.

The type of beer you will be enjoying depends on the type of pizza you order. Cheese pizza purists might be happy with an APA(American Pale Ale) because the flavor of the APA balances well with the salty creaminess of mozzarella cheese.

On the other side of the table, those who love meat on their pizza might be happy with a beer that is dark and smoky to harmonize with the meat.

If you are a vegetarian, you might like your pizza piled high with veggies. If that’s the case, consider a Kolsch. Lighter beers bring out the freshness of vegetables and make for a great warm weather pairing.

What if you’re craving a slice of some classic New York-style white pizza?

You would do well with a Brune-style Belgian beer. Brune beers tend to be very acidic, and acidic beers make excellent partners for creamy cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta.

Specialty Pizzas

That’s no problem at all! There is an ideal beer for each and every iteration of pizza you can think of.

Hawaiian pizzas go great with a Pale Ale, while Chicago-style pizzas go great with American Strong Ale, a beer sturdy enough for a monster slice.

New Haven pizza is perfectly paired with a light beer, a drink that doesn’t clash with the bold Italian seafood flavors.

The secret to the perfect beer pairing with your pizza is to find an equal partner, because the idea is for the food and drink to be enjoyed together, not independently. The beer is not an undercard for the pizza or vice versa.

It is important to be thoughtful when deciding on a beer for your pizza, because you don’t want the flavors to clash.

Some beers just do not go well with specific types of pizza, and you should be wary of that.

Once you’ve settled on the type of beer you want to enjoy with your pizza, make sure the brand of beer you choose is the best you can find.

But ultimately, your pizza and beer combo is up to you.

Everyone’s preferences are different, and if you have a favorite beer you want to enjoy with your pizza, that is entirely up to you!